Heat protective devices for windows



June 1959 G. A. ELLESTAD HEAT PROTECTIVEVDEVICES FOR WINDOWS Filed April17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIQI June 2, 1959 G. A. ELLESTAD 2,888,985

HEAT PROTECTIVE DEVICES FOR WINDOWS Filed April 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet2 W 'l 3T A! I F 6.6

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2,888,985 HEAT PROTECTIVE DEVICES FOR WINDOWS Gerhard A. Ellestad,Rochester, N .Y. Application April 17, 1957, Serial No. 653,439

Claims. (Cl. 160-99) This invention relates to heat protective devicesfor windows and more particularly it has reference to such a devicewhich is adapted to be positioned outside of a window in order to retardthe entrance of heat into a room through the window opening.

Various types of awnings and blinds which are generally used forprotecting Windows from heat rays of the sun have several disadvantages.Thus, the use of canvas awnings entails not only the inconvenience andexpense of seasonal installation and removal but also the expense ofreplacing deteriorated canvas. The original or seasonal installation ofan awning or blind cannot be easily accomplished by the averagehouseholder, especially on windows in the upper stories of a building.Metal awnings are relatively expensive and since they are usuallyinstalled permanently some of them cut off from the windows, in allseasons, a great deal of light which is needed on dark and cloudy days.It has also been proposed to provide heat reflecting surfaces on windowshades but since shades are installed on the inner side of the window, agreat deal of heat passes through the window glass and into the roombefore it strikes the reflecting surface of the shade.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a heat protectivedevice of the type described which will overcome many of thedisadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide a heat protective device of thetypedescn'bed which will be relatively simple in structure yet efficientand convenient in operation.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described whichembodies a surface which reflects heat rays away from the window and canbe installed on or removed from a double hung window sash quickly andeasily without the use of tools or special skills.

Another object is to provide a heat protective device of the typedescribed embodying a roll of pliable heat reflecting material and meansfor detachably mounting the roll substantially in the plane of the uppersash of a double hung window so that the material may be selectivelymoved outside of the window in operative covering relation thereto.

A further object isto provide a protective device comprising a roll ofpliable, heat reflecting material which is so mounted that it may beselectively moved into operative covering relation adjacent the outerside of a window even if an auxiliary unit such as a screen or stormsash is carried by the window frame.

Still another object is to provide means for detachably mounting on adouble hung window a supply of pliable heat reflecting material whichmay be selectively posi- V tioned between the glass in the window and anauxiliary 4 unit such as a screen or storm sash mounted on the outerportion of the window frame so as to retard the entrance l of heat raysthrough the window.

A further object is to provide a heat protective device 1 for windowswhich embodies a roll of pliable sheet material having a heat reflectingsurface and is detachably filed rates Patent Q Patented June 2, 19.59

2 carried by a double hung window so that the material may beselectively positioned outside of the window to reflect heat raysoutwardly and away from the window.

These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of parts as willhereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a frame and double hung windowequipped with a heat. protective device which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary face view thereof looking from the right side ofFig. 1 and taken along line 2-2.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views of details.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification oftheinvention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view of the modification shown in Fig. 5,as viewed from the right side of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view also similar to Fig. 1 and showing a furthermodification of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the drawingswherein 15 indicates the frame of a double hung window comprising theupper sash 16 and the lower sash 17. These two sashes, which carry theusual glass panes 18, are mounted for vertical sliding movement in awell known manner, with the lower sash 17 mounted towards the inner sideof the frame and the upper sash 16 mounted towards the outer side of theframe.

According to the invention, there is provided a heat protective devicecomprising a strip of pliable sheet material 19 which is stored bywinding it as a roll 20 on roller 20 which is of the spring-actuatedtype in wide use as a roller for window shades. The roller 20, on whichthe sheet material 19 is wound, may be made of wood and has at itsrespective ends the usual round and fiat bearing projections 21 and 22which coact with the brackets 23 and 24 for rotatably mounting theroller in a well known manner. The two brackets 23 and 24- arerespectively secured, as by rivets 25, to the adjacent ends of anelongated plate or base 26 which is a little shorter in length than theupper rail 27 of the upper sash 16 and of substantially the same widthso that the base 26 may be rested upon the upper rail of the loweredupper sash 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to detachably hold the base 26 on the top edge or upper rail ofthe sash 16, there are provided on opposite ends of the base 26 suitablemeans such as the depending, resilient U-shaped members 28 which aresecured to the base by rivets 28. The depending sides 29 ofthe members28 act as resilient clamping fingers and yieldably grip the oppositesides of the upper rail of sash 16 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.With this construction, the roller 20', carrying the supply of rolledmaterial 20, may be detachably secured to the upper rail of the uppersash 16 (which is slightly lowered) so that the roller 20' and therolled up material 20 will be positioned substantially in the plane ofthe sash 16. The outer end of the strip of sheet material 19 isreversely folded and fastened to provide a looped portion 30 forreceiving a wooden slat 31 into which is fastened a screw eye 32 forattaching thereto the flexible cable or pull string 33.

In use, the upper sash 16 is lowered to a convenient height so that thebase 26 carrying the supply roll of material 20 can be positioned on theupper rail or edge of the sash 16 as shown in Fig. 1, the pull string 33having first been dropped down along the outer side of the window. Thesash 16 may then be raised until the roll 20 is positioned just belowthe upper part of the window frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lowersash 17 is then raised sufficiently to permit one to grasp the pullstring 33 and the strip of material 19 is then pulled down from theroller 20 so as to substantially cover the entire outer surfaces of theglass panes 18. The sash 17 may then be lowered as shown in Fig.1 or itmay be left partially raised if ventilation is desired, If the uppersash 16 slides easily, it may be necessary to hold it in position withone hand while the material 19 is unrolled by pulling the string 33 withthe other hand.

While the pliable sheet material 19 may be formed of any suitablematerial which will reduce the amount of heat rays which will strike thewindow, 1 preferably use a pliable sheet material which has been treatedso that its outer surface will reflect heat rays. Good results have beenobtained by using a pliable, laminated sheet material which had beenmade by depositing a bright reflecting metallic coating, such asaluminum, on a thin, transparent plastic sheeting which is then backedup with a thin cloth fabric. Such pliable sheet material may be easilyrolled on the roller 20 and it is, of course, positioned on the rollerso that the heat reflecting, metallized surface faces outwardly when theroller 20 is installed on a window sash as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Various other types of pliable sheet material with heat reflectingproperties may be used, such as metallized fabrics or the like. Materialsuch as metallized plastic sheeting is not damaged by rain.

As shown in Fig. l, the heat protective device may be used on a windowwhich is equipped with an auxiliary unit such as a screen 34 which iscarried by a frame 35 mounted outwardly of the window sash on the frame15. Such an auxiliary unit will prevent the unrolled strip of material19 from whipping about when the wind blows so that the device isprotected against damage by windstorm. Similar advantages are attainedif the auxiliary unit is in the form of a full length storm window or aunit having one half of glass and the other half of screen. Heat raysfrom the sun will pass through the expanse of material such as glass orscreen of the auxiliary unit so that the heat reflecting material 19will function to reflect the heat rays outwardly and away from the glass18 in the window sashes. The auxiliary unit, embodying either the screen35 or a glass pane (not shown), is usually spaced only a relativelyshort distance from the upper sash 16, and while there is ample roomtherebetween to receive the unrolled sheet material 19, there is notsuflicient room for the roll 20. This problem has been solved bymounting the roller 20' and roll of material 20 so that they arepositioned substantially in the plane of the upper sash 16 and, as shownin Fig. 1, this may be accomplished by mounting the roller 20' on theupper rail 27 of the upper sash 16. When the strip of material 19 isunrolled so as to cover the window glass panes 18, it will also tend toprovide a quiescent or dead air space which will have insulatingproperties and aid in retarding passage of heat through the glass 18.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the roller 20 carrying therolled pliable sheet material 19 is rotatably mounted on brackets 23 and24 which are secured to the elongated base 40. An integral projection 41which extends inwardly and upwardly from the base 40 is secured to theparting bead or stop 42 of the window frame 15 by means of screws 43. Bythis construction, the roll of material 20 is mounted above andsubstantially in the plane of the upper rail 27 of the'upper sash 16 sothat the pliable sheet material 19 may be unrolled and positionedopposite the outside of the window panes 18, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.With this arrangement, the roll of protective material 20 may be held inposition in a more or less permanent manner by means of the screws 43.Other means, such as hooks or clamps could be used to detachably holdthe roll 20 above and in the plane of the upper sash 16.

In operation of the device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is merelynecessary to raise the lower sash 17 and pull the material down from theroll 20 by means of the cord 33.

In this modification, the unrolled material 19 is also positionedbetween the window sash and the auxiliary unit such as a screen 34carried by frame 35 at the outer part of the frame 15. Hence, theunrolled material 19 is protected against whipping about because of astrong wind.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the roll 20 of pliable sheetmaterial 19 is carried by a spring-actuated roller on brackets mountedwithin an elongated casing 50 which is mounted on the sill 51 of thewindow frame 15 so as to lie substantially in the plane of the uppersash 16. The casing 50 has the hinged cover 52 which is provided with anupturned edge 53 located adjacent the outer wall of the casing so as toprovide the slot 54 for the passage of the pliable sheet material. Whenthe material is rolled down and housed in the casing 50, the slat 31will fit into the slot 54 so that the casing will thereby besubstantially closed. The pliable sheet material 19 is withdrawn fromthe casing 50 by means of the pull string 33 which is attached to slat31 and passes over a pulley 55, mounted at the upper part of windowframe 15, and over the upper rail 27 of the lowered upper sash 16. Thecasing 51) is secured to the sill 51 or sides of the frame 15 by screws,not shown.

In this modification, the roll of pliable material 20 is mounted on thesill 51 so as to be substantially in the plane of the upper sash 16 andthereby permit the material 19 to be drawn upwardly so as to cover thewindow panes 18. As in the other forms of the invention, shown in Figs.l-6, the pliable sheet material may be positioned between the sash andan outer auxiliary unit such as the screen 34 carried on frame 35.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain theobjects of my invention and provide a simple yet effective heatprotective device which can be readily secured to or removed from awindow so as to retard the passage of heat rays into a room through thewindow. The pliable sheet material 19 may be formed of any suitablematerial which will retard the passage of heat rays. Pliable plasticsheet material which has been coated with aluminum to provide anefficient heat reflecting surface has proven very satisfactory. Suchmaterial is usually opaque but if it is desired to have the materialsuch that it will transmit some light while still reflecting heat, amaterial such as described in US. Patent No. 2,774,421 may be used.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1-6, the roll 20 ofmaterial is mounted atthe upper end of the window frame 15 while in theform shown in Fig. 7 the roll 20 is mounted at the lower end of theframe. In all forms, however, the roll 20 lies substantially in theplane of upper sash 16 so that the sheet material 19 may be selectivelyunrolled from the roll 20 and brought into operative position adjacentthe outer surfaces of the window panes 18. This location of the roll 20'makes it possible to use the heat protective device on a window even ifan auxiliary unit, such as a screen or storm sash, is mounted on thewindow frame. The presence of an auxiliary unit, such as a screen orstorm sash, will be advantageous since it would prevent violent whippingabout of the sheet material 19 if it were left accidentally in anoperative or unrolled condition during a violent storm. 7

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 14 may, of course, be readilymounted on or removed from the upper sash without the use of tools sinceit is merely necessary to place the base 26 on the rail 27 so that thefingers 29 yieldably grip the sides of the rail 27. The modificationsshown in Figs. 5-7 may be installed in a semi-permanent, position by theuse of screws or quick acting clamps (not shown) could be used insteadof screws. In all forms of the invention, the entire areas of the windowsash may be protected against heat rays and the sashes may be insubstantially closed position so that heated air from outdoors will bepretty well excluded. All forms of my invention may be usedadvantageously on a double hung window equipped with an auxiliary unitsuch as a screen or an outer window or storm sash or combinationsthereof.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In combination, a window frame, a double hung window having upper andlower sashes mounted for vertical sliding movement in the frame, anauxiliary unit mounted in the frame outside the Window, said unitincluding an expanse of heat ray transmitting material which covers atleast a part of the area of the window, said unit being mounted in theframe to provide a free space between it and the sashes, a strip ofpliable sheet material having a heat reflecting surface, a roller onwhich the strip of material is wound and means for detachably supportingthe roller and material at one end of the frame in the plane of theupper sash and so constructed and arranged that the strip of materialmay be selectively moved into said free space in covering relation tothe window and with its heat reflecting surface facing outwardly tothereby reflect away from the window heat rays which pass through thematerial of the unit.

2. The combination with a double hung window having upper and lowermovable sashes of a heat reflecting device comprising a strip of pliablesheet material having a heat reflecting surface, a roller on which thematerial is wound, and means for detachably holding the roller andmaterial above the top rail of the upper sash and with said rollerpositioned substantially in the plane of the upper sash, said heatreflecting surface facing outwardly of the window whereby the strip ofmaterial may be selectively unwound from the roller and broughtoutwardly of the sashes and into covering relation to the glass in thesashes so as to reflect away fro-m the window heat rays which areincident upon said surface.

3. In combination, a window frame, upper and lower sashes mounted forrelative movement on the frame, a strip of pliable sheet material havinga heat reflecting surface, a roller on which the strip of material iswound, and means carried by the frame for detachably mounting the rollerand material along the top edge of the lowered upper sash with theroller lying substantially in the plane of the upper sash whereby thestrip of material may be selectively moved down over the outside of thesashes, said heat reflecting surface of the material facing outwardly tothereby reflect heat rays away from the window.

4. A heat reflecting device for a double hung window having upper andlower relatively movable sashes, said device comprising a strip ofpliable sheet material having heat reflecting properties on at least onesurface thereof, a roller on which said strip of material is wound, andmeans for detachably supporting the roller and material on the upperrail of the upper sash with the heat reflecting surface facing outwardlywhereby the sheet material may be selectively unwound from the rollerand positioned outside of the window to thereby reflect outwardly heatrays which are incident thereupon.

5. In combination, a window frame, a double hung window having upper andlower relatively movable sashes mounted on the frame, heat reflectingmeans comprising a strip of pliable sheet material having a heatreflecting surface, said strip of material having an area large enoughto cover substantially the entire area of the glass in both sashes, aroller on which the strip of material is wound and means supported bythe frame for detachably holding the roller and material along andsubstantially in the plane of the top edge of the upper sash and soconstructed and arranged that the strip of material may be selectivelyunwound from the roller and positioned outside of the window with itsheat reflecting surface remote from the glass to thereby reflect heatrays away from the window.

6. A heat protective device for a double hung window having upper andlower relatively movable sashes, said device comprising a strip ofpliable sheet material having at least one heat reflecting surface, saidstrip having an area to substantially cover the glass in both thesashes, a spring actuated roller on which the strip of material iswound, an elongated base, a pair of spaced brackets carried by the basefor rotatably supporting the roller, and clamping means carried by thebase whereby the device may be detachably secured to the upper rail ofthe upper sash with the base and roller extending along the top edge ofthe upper sash so that the strip of material may be selectivelypositioned outside of the window with the heat reflecting surface remotefrom the glass to thereby reflect heat rays away from the window.

7. The combination with a double hung window having upper and lowerrelatively movable sashes of heat reflecting means comprising a strip ofpliable sheet material having a heat reflecting surface, said strip ofmaterial having an area large enough to cover substantially the entirearea of glass in both sashes, a roller on which the strip of material iswound, an elongated base, spaced brackets carried by the base, saidroller being rotatably supported by the brackets, and projectingclamping fingers carried by the base for gripping opposite sides of thesash whereby the base and roller may be detachably supported on the toprail of the lowered upper sash with the base extend ing along the upperedge thereof so that the sheet ma terial may be selectively moved acrossthe outside of the sashes with its heat reflecting surface facedoutwardly to thereby reflect heat rays away from the window.

8. The combination with a window frame having double hung window sashesmounted thereon and an auxiliary unit having heat transmitting materialmounted on the frame outwardly of and in spaced relation to the sashesof a heat protective device comprising a roll of pliable sheet materialhaving a heat reflecting surface, said roll of material being carried bythe frame in the plane of the upper sash and constructed and arranged sothat the material may be selectively moved from the roll into the spacebetween the sashes and the auxiliary unit with the heat reflectingsurface facing outwardly whereby heat rays passing through the materialof the auxiliary unit are reflected outwardly and away from the sashes.

9. In combination, a window frame, a double hung window having upper andlower sashes mounted for relative movement in the frame, one of thesashes being mounted outwardly of the other, a strip of pliable sheetmaterial having a heat reflecting surface facing outwardly, saidmaterial having an area large enough to cover both sashes, a roller onwhich said material is wound, means carried by the frame for detachablyholding the roller and wound material at one end of the frame and withthe roller and wound material lying substantially in the plane of theoutermost sash, and means for selectively moving the material incovering relation to and outside of both sashes to operatively positionthe heat reflecting surface for reflecting heat rays away from thewindow.

10. The structure recited in claim 9 wherein said roller is mounted onthe sill of the window frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,780,461 Byars Nov. 4, 1930 2,325,992 Wirthman Aug. 3, 1943 2,624,403Zelenko Jan. 6, 1953

